Bandits Demand N100m Ransom Per Victim From Families of Abducted Kwara Worshippers

Armed bandits who stormed a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) service in Eruku community, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a staggering N100 million ransom for each of the approximately 35 worshippers they abducted on Tuesday evening.The attackers opened fire during the evening service, killing an unspecified number of congregants and kidnapping others in a brazen assault that was partially captured on the church’s live-stream video. The footage showed worshippers singing and praying when sudden bursts of gunfire erupted around the building, sending the congregation into panic.By Thursday, family members and community leaders confirmed that the kidnappers had begun contacting relatives using the victims’ own mobile phones.Josiah Agbabiaka, secretary of the CAC assembly in Eruku, told Punch newspaper that the abductors had divided the captives into groups and were systematically demanding N100 million per person.“It is true the bandits have started calling family members with the victims’ phones. The first group of 11 people, they are asking N100 million each,” Agbabiaka said.Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, lost four family members in the attack. He confirmed receiving similar demands and described how the gunmen are working through the groups one by one.“They said the victims were grouped, and they are calling the relatives of each group. Some people have already received calls demanding N100 million for each person,” Olukotun said. He was inside the church with five relatives during the invasion but managed to escape by jumping through a window.The traditional ruler of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, issued an urgent appeal for intensified government and security intervention to rescue the victims unharmed.Oba Olarewaju acknowledged the rapid deployment of soldiers to the community shortly after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s visit on Wednesday, saying their presence had brought some reassurance to traumatized residents.“Last night, minutes after the governor left, soldiers arrived in our community. We thank the government for the quick response, but we beg that more be done urgently to bring our people back safely,”the monarch pleaded.

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